Purification of oil



J. S. MAIN PURIFICATION 0F oIL Jan. 24, 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed May 8, 1929 Jan. 24, 1933. J. S. MAIN PURIFIGATION oF oIL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JwgzrmvsN-ona EY my Original Filed ATTRNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNlED SATES oFFlce JOHN S. MAIN, OF WELLINGTON, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO OHL RECLAMATION ,COMPANY, A CORPORATION PURIFICATION OF OIL Application filed May 8, 1929, Serial No. 361,489. Renewed March 18, 1932.

The object of this invention is to treat and clarify mineral oil by subjecting the product to a continuous flow of hot water and chemicals during the passage of the oil :trom a receiving or separating tank, thru the present apparatus, and thence to stock tank or tanks from which the oil is withdrawn for sale thru pipe line companies.

A further Iobject is to provide a closed circuit .system in which the water and chemicals are used repeatedly, resulting in a saving in cost or reducing or eliminating the usual expenditure of time in caring tor the apparatus and providing for the renewal ot the cleaning agents.

A further object is to subject a body of oil to hot water and steam discharged within a. cleaning tank above the yoil which enters from the receiving tank and passes to the bottom of the cleaning tank and thence passes upwardly thru the hot water and chemicals within this tank, to the upper oil level, from which point it is drawn off and transferred to the stock tank, for sale.

A further object is to provide particular means for distributing and discharging hot water and steam above, or above and below the body of oil and also for introducing the oil to the cleaning tank.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements disclosed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scop-e ot the claims without departing Jfrom the spirit .of the in- Vention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus in elevation and vertical section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 8--3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and .5 are details of construction referred to below.

An oil receiving or separating tank is designated 10, and is shown conventionally, the apparatus as a whole bein illustrated somewhat diagrammatically. il ows thru pipe 11 on tank 10, this pipe being controlled by valve V12, and flows thru pipe 13 (termed the How pipe of the apparatus). This pipe has connected therewith at the joint 14, an upstandlng member or pipe providing for thc escape of gas from the flow line, the elements just referred to being designated at 15 and passing thru the wall of the tank 16 which may be regarded as the cleaning tank of this apparatus.

The tank 16 includes the top 17 and a bottom 18, and within the lower portion of the tank is an loil distributing device including a pipe or duct 20 having lateral pertorations 21 therein, so that the oil will be discharged to opposite sides of this element 2O and will pass upwardly thru a body of water 22, the water being introduced from the heating apparatus referred to below.

lt may here be indicated that the lower portion of the tank has connection with a water supply pipe 24 controlled by a valve 25. A pipe connection 26 is secured to valve casing 27 thru which water may pass from the tank 16 in returning to the heating apparatus thru pipe 28.

The body of the oil assumed to have passed thru the body of water 22, is designated 80, and settlings and scum may be drawn of thru pipe 81 controlled by the valve 32.

The heating apparatus includes a. furnace 85 and a boiler 86 connected by pipe 87 with pipe 38 thru which hot water and steam pass to the upper portion of tank 16, said pipe 38 being controlled by valve 39. A distributing device includes the tubular element 40 provided with lateral openings or ports and closed at its upper end by a plug 4:2. Another plug 43 closes the end of the oil distributing pipe 2O in the lower portion of tank 16.

A stock tank is designated 44, and oil is drawn off thru pipe 45, positioned as shown with reference to the body of oil which it is intended to accumulate, pipe 45 entering tank 44 at the point illustrated and being conn trolled by valve 46. Pipe 38 has a lower connection at 38 controlled by a valve 88,

thus providing tor blowing scales etc. out of the pipe in question, and providing a hose connection 88a for washing out the tank.

The flow of oil from the receiving or sepay rating tank l is continuous for any period i Water and steam discharged from the distrib-A U desired, and the oil is discharged thru open-v ings 21 in lower pipe 20, the oil passing upwardly thru the body of the water 22 and accumulating at 30, and bein drawn off at the upper level determined by the position of pipe 45. This pipe as already indicated has comiection with stock tank 4.4. The hotl uting device 40 will be sprayed laterally, and will pass downwardly thru the body of oil and accumulate in the bottom of tank 16, and the water and chemicals to be employed, as usual under similar circumstances passing from thel lower portion of tank 16 returns to the'. boiler, thus providing a closed circuit, and providing under natural heating conditions or the treatment and purification of one thousand barrels of oil per day in an apparatus proportioned as the one under consideration is designed to be constructed.

yIta. greater quantity of oil is to be treated at the Sametime, an increase in the rate of flow of the water and chemicals should be provided, rand this is effected by means of water pump 50 connected with pipes l'and 52 controlled by valves 51 and 52. A check Valve is located as shown at 54. This arrangement provides for the use or cutting out of the pump 50 according to the circumstances just indicated.

What is claimed is 1. In an oil purifying apparatus, a washing tank, a flow pipe lfor introducing oil to the lower portion of the tank, means for introducing hot water and steam to the upper portion of the tank, means for admitting hot water and steam at a point intermediate of the upper and lower portions of the tank,

means for discharging oil from above a body of water in the tank and from a zone between the mea-ns first named and the intermediate point, and means for Adischarging hotwater from the tank. Y

2. An apparatus including the elements of claim 1assembled as there indicated, and including a mechanically driven device for accelerating the flow of water from the tank, and means for by-passing this device.

JOHN S. MAIN. 

